Product Description: The quick guide to understanding the global securities marketsInvesting in the global securities markets poses challenges far beyond simply choosing a security that's likely to provide a decent return. Global Securities Markets provides a framework for navigating through these highly diverse and complex markets, covering all the basics of global investing...read more

Most people agree that a good investment climate is essential for growth and poverty reduction. Less clear is how to achieve it. Many reforms are complex, involving more than technical design and content. They are both political, facing opposition from organized and powerful groups-and institutionally demanding, cutting across different departments and levels of government. Reform thus requires paying as much attention to understanding the politics and institutional dimensions as to policy substance, which is the goal of this paper. Drawing from more than 25 case studies, it shows that there is no single recipe or 'manual' for reform, given diverse contexts and serendipity in any reform effort. But three broad lessons emerge. The first is to recognize and seize opportunities for reform. Crisis and new governments are important catalysts, but so is the competition generated by trade integration and new benchmarking information. The second is to invest early in the politics of reform. Central to this process is using education and persuasion strategies to gain wider acceptance and neutralize opponents. Pilot programs can be valuable for demonstrating the benefits and feasibility of change. And the third is to pay greater attention to implementation and monitoring. This does not require full scale public management reforms. Reformers can draw on private sector change management techniques to revitalize public institutions responsible for implementation. Given the cross-cutting nature of reform, new oversight mechanisms may be needed to monitor and sustain reform. The paper concludes with an emerging checklist for reformers and identifies areas for future work.

Geoff Cutmore offers a fresh approach to the age-old battle of profitable investing in uncertain times. With most experts now predicting volatile stock market conditions in the years ahead, many old, tried-and-true investment strategies no longer work. Cutmore reveals how some well-known investors continue to make money in these difficult economic times. ""Through the biggest equity bubble and bear market in a generation Geoff Cutmore has been a pivotal commentator on these unfolding events in his role as main anchorman for CNBC Europe's award winning business breakfast programme Squawk Box." "In this book Geoff provides a fascinating insight into some of the leading characters in the investment industry and how their alternative investment styles have worked during the biggest bear market in a generation. It is essential reading for all those people who have an interest in investment and can help investors understand some of the different investment approaches which have evolved during this tumultuous period."" Nigel Bolton, Head of European Equities, Scottish Widows Investment Partnership ""Is the bear market in stocks over or are we in for many more tough years, and what does that mean for our hard-earned pension portfolios? By talking to some of the great original thinkers in investing, Geoff skillfully draws out some fascinating answers. An absolute pleasure to read!"" Bob McKee, Chief Economist, Independent Strategy, London-based global investment consult

Validea.com, a Web site that ranks and evaluates stock-picking professionals based on the performance of their ideas, is the first comprehensive, ongoing effort to hold investment gurus accountable. Now, for the first time, individuals can explore each guru and his methodology and apply that methodology to their own investing decisions. John Reese and Todd Glassman, experts in computerized investment decision making, take readers through the ins and outs of financial strategies developed by the crème de la crème of the industry-stars such as Peter Lynch, Warren Buffett, David Dreman, and James O'Shaughnessy. Along the way, readers will learn: *Time-tested methods to help make smarter investing decisions *How to use Validea.com to research questions and interpret the information from this book *Financial ratios explained in layman's terms that can be used to put newfound knowledge to work right away Validea.com has undertaken the monster task of tracking the picks and pans of virtually every leading stock advisor. The information outlined by Reese and Glassman extends Validea.com a step further with a critical and insightful look at the world's most highly regarded investment strategies.